Cigarette box and case.



PATENTED JUNE 2, G. ALBREGHT. CIGARETTE BOX AND CASE. APPLIoLTIoN FILEDJULY 2o. 1907.

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GEORGE ALBRECHT, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CIGARETTE BOX AND CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed July 20, 1907. Serial No. 384,690.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE ALBRECHT, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCigarette Boxes and Cases, of which the following :is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to cigarette boxes and cases, and the inventionhas for its object to provide a cigarette box or case of an illusorynature to which considerable mysti-y ification is attached regarding thedelivery of the contents of the cigarette box or case. `My inventionaims to provide a cigarette case or box for affording considerableamusement to persons favored with a cigarette, at the same timerequiring dexterity on the part of the owner of the cigarette case orbo-x.

Briefly described my improved cigarette case or box consists of twomovable compartments arranged within a suitable casing, one compartmentbeing located within the other. The innermost compartment is adapted tocontain cigarettes, but by artfully manipulating the compartments, thecigarette holding compartment is first displaced, and then by illusivelyclosing the case and manipulating the same, the other of saidcompartments can be withdrawnthus perplexing one as to where thecigarettes have disappeared.

The detail construction entering into my invention will be presentlydescribed, and then specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of the cigarette case orbox, illustrating the compartments partiallywithdrawn, there# from, Fig.2 is a cross sectional view of the casing or box, Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional view of the same, Fig. 4 is a longi tudinalsectional view of the casing with both compartments withdrawn, and Fig.5 is a similar view illustrating the outer' or empty compartmentwithdrawn from the casing.

To put my invention into-practice, I provide a casing l made of cardboard, leather or similar durable material. This casing can be readilyused for advertisement purposes if so desired.

In the casing l is slidably mounted an louter or empty com artment 2,having an elongated opening 3 ormed in its top. This compartment isclosed at its outer end and is provided with a tab or handle 4 tofacilitate the withdrawal of the compartment from the casing l, while atthe inner end is located a depending rim 5 for engaging a rib 6, carriedby the casing l, said rim and rib preventing the entire removal of theouter or em ty compartment 2.

Sli ably mounted in the outer or empty compartment 2 is a cigaretteholding compartment 7 conforming in shape to the compartment 2, with theexception that it is slightly smaller and is adapted to slide in saidcompartment. The rear end of the compartment 7 is provided with a pieceof rubber or similar material 8 for frictionally engaging the bottom ofthe casing l, while the top of the compartment 7 is cut away, as at 9,providing an opening conforming in size 1 to the opening 3 of thecompartment 2.

In forming the open-ings 3 and 9 of the compartments 2 and 7respectively, I allow sufiicient material at each end of saidcompartments, whereby when the compartment 7 fits within the compartment2, it will be impossible to detect at first glance the arrangement ofthe compartments, and to further deceive one as to the arrangement ofthe compartments, I make the compartments of a similarmaterial and asimilar color.

The manner of practicing legerdemain with my cigarette case or box is asfollows: Assuming that cigarettes have been placed in the innercompartment 7, the tab or handle 4 is pulled outwardly before displayingthe cigarettes, as when offering a person one. After the manipulator ofthe cigarette case is positive that the cigarettes have been seen, themanipulator closes the case and by exerting a slight pressure upon therear side of the casing l, as indicated in Fig. 5, the inner compartmentwill be pressed downwardly causing the piece of rubber 8 to frictionallyengage the bottom of the casing l, and hold the inner compartment, whilethe outer or empty compartment is withdrawn from the casing l, thusmystifying the person to' be favored with a cigarette, as to how thecigarettes have disappeared. It is obvious that the majority of personsnot aware that a trick is to be played, will unconsciously reach for thecigarette and consequently be fooled.'

The cigarette case requires very little practice on the part of a personto artfully manipulate the same, and while I have herein described thecase or box as particularly designed for cigarettes, it is obvious thatit can be used for various articles.

Having fully described my invention, what l claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is1- l. A cigarette box consisting of a flexiblecasing having a rib at the front end thereof an outer compartmentslidably-mounted in said casing and having an elongated opening formedin the top thereof, a depending rim carried by the rear end of saidcompartment for engaging said rib, a handle carried by the outer end ofsaid compartment, a ilexible 'cigarette holding compartmentslidablymounted within said outer compartment and having an openingcorresponding in size to and registering with the opening in said outercompartment, and a strip of resilient material carried by one end ofsaid cigarette holding compartment in such position as to be capable ofbeing pressed against the casing, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

2. A flexible cigarette box embodying a casing having a rib at the frontend thereof, an outer compartment slidably-mounted therein and having anelongated-opening formed in the top thereof, a flexible cigaretteholding compartment slidably arranged within said outer compartment andhaving an opening in its top corresponding in size to and registeringwith the opening in the top of said outer compartment, means carried bysaid cigarette holding compartment in such position as to be capable ofbeingpressed into frictional engagement with said casing, and meanscarried by said outer compartment for engagement with the rib of thecasing to limit the outward movement of said outer compartment.

3. A box embodying a flexible casing, an outer compartment slidablymounted therein, a flexible inner compartment slidably arranged withinsaid outer compartment, said compartments having registering openings inthe top thereof, means for limiting the outward movement of said outercompartment, and means carried by 'the inner compartment and located insuch position as to be capable of being pressed into frictionalengagement with said casing whereby the outer compartment may bewithdrawn independently of the inner compartment.

In testimony whereof l aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE ALBRECHT.

Witnesses:

MAx H. SRoLoviTz, C. A. RINZIEHAUSEN.

